Trimmer for battery separators



Jan. 5, 1932. P. ERPELDHNG 1,839,333 j TRIMMER FOR BATTERY SEPARATORS Filed Jan. l5, 1950 and the following Patented Jan. 5, 1932 LAWRENCE r. narnnnINe, or INnIANAroLIs, INDIANA.

'rammen ron; YiaAfrfrQT'iivr vsVEIA-.aA'roNs Applieationiiled January 13, 1930.y Serial No.1420,535.` A

This invention relates to a trimming machine for thin sheets such as veneer and the like, particularly such as storage battery insulation separators.A V

The chief obl'ect of the invention is to provide a device which has a relatively large capacity and which will readily and withoutv breakage to the articles to be operated upon orto the machine, trim and/or size a a group of sheet material, such as battery separators. f f

One feature of the invention consists in the sheet clamping construction and the association therewith of a traveling carriage preferablyin the continued movement of a memloer initially actuated for clamping of the sheets.

Another feature of the 4inventioni'consists in the oscillating pair `of spaced knives between which the 4carriage and supported sheets pass for trimming and for sizing to a predetermined width determined bythe spacing of ther knives.

A third feature of the invention r*consists in the guide and the adjustable mounting thereof whereby the sheets to be trimmed are readily positioned upon the clampingcarriage in substantially parallel and aligned relation whereby a minimum of trimming will be required and therefore the rough stock sheets may be of a minimum initial size.

A fourth feature of the invention consists in the offset connection of the knives to the crank shaft for power balancing.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings description and claims. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a central sectional view of the clamping carriage and the supporttherefor. Fig. l is a transverse sectional view of the same taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3 and in the direction of the arrows.

ln the drawings 10 indicates the bed of a machine provided with the usual legs or end frames- 11. Any suitable support however, may be provided. A motor 12 through a belt 13 or equivalent device, drives a pulley-14 holes 34 provided carried by shaft 15. Shaft 15 includes a' pair of crank portions 16 offset 180 degrees.

Extending from the platform or base 10 is a pair of upstanding arms 17 each of fwhich pivotally supports as at 18 a link`19. `Link 55 19 is pivotally connected at 2O to the upper end .of the vertically arranged kconn'ectingrod 21 supporting thev cutting bladev 22. The lower end of said connecting rod is supported by the crank portion as at 23. The knives are maintained in substantially parallel relation and in predetermined spaced relation and are oscillated simultaneously but one knife is in advance of the other by 180 degree'swhich serves to balance the machine and secures 65 vgreater uniformity in cutting. The crank portions 23 are diametrically offset for power balancing. Y

At the ,end 'of the machinel opposite `from the motor 12 and'toone sidethere is mount- 70 ed a'locating or guide plate `30 andthe same carries a pair of pins 431 which project through and are slidably supported by a rigid frame member of plate 33, the latter having for such purpose. t. Coil springs 35 retained'by washers 36 normally constrain the clamping plate toward the re? tracted position; that is they tend to position plate 30 adjacent plate 33.` fEachoftheQfour Acornersof theiplate 30 supportsthe'inner end 80 of a' screw construction 40. -'Each screwpasses through'-rplate 33 and terminates in the ex`` posed sprocket' 41. The sprocketslllf are all connected together by a chain construction A2 and one of the screw shafts423'mounts a 85 handle-AA whereby all ofthe screw-shafts; are simultaneously turned in the same direction to simultaneously advance and-retract all four corners of the plate 30 so that'plat`e30 will always lie parallel to plate `33'ar'1dv in 90 the `adjusted position.v The lu'sualthreaded connection associated-with the several shafts 43 vis provided to obtain such operation. 7 A I Extending longitudinally and medianly of the machine andl depending from'the car'- L95 riage, is a pair offspaced'angle members 50 which vprovide'a T-slot .therebetween and forma slide wayforthe carriage 52'and` members 50 lare carriedfthereby. Thebase A10 centrally 'supports an I-member151 with -a 100 T-shaped head, having a central longitudinal groove 51a therein-see Fig. 4. Carriage 52 has a transverse flange 53 that supports a front plate 54. A back plate 55 is carried by the back support 56 secured to the groove located plate 58a secured together as at 59a. The two plates 54 and 55 haverelative movement toward Yand away from each other as shown. A lever 57 having one end 58 socketed at 58?; in plate 58a is pivotally supported at 59 on the arm 60 rigid with plate 54. EX- tending upwardly from the arm 60 is a handle 6l and the lever 57 terminates in a handle 62 positioned adjacent handle 6l.

The position of plate 30 is adjusted through the handle 44. The carriage is retracted so as to be positioned forwardly 'of the knives and the two plates 54 and 55 are separated by the tilting of the lever handle 62 away from plate 54. The sheets of veneer, separators or the like are then positioned between the two plates 54 and 55 and are crowded laterally against plate 30 as a guide. When the space between the two plates 54 and 55 is substantially filled handle 62 is moved toward handle 6l and the two handles are gripped together.

The initial lever movement causes clamping of the two plates against the sheets. Continued application of pressure serves to push the carriage toward the motor and in so doing the carriage with the two plates and the sheets passes between the two knives.

Each sheet has a predetermined width and two parallel sides. o prevent chipping of the knife blades by engagement with the plates, each plate is provided at` each corner with a vertical insert of soft metal such as lead and the same is indicated at in Figs. 2 and 3. Upon completing the trimming of all sheets the carriage is retracted, the leverl 62 released and the trimmed sheets removed and replaced by untrimmed sheets. rlhe trim or waste falls to the Hoor or may be collected in suitable containers beneath the platform.

Suitable guides or direction plates are secured to frame adjacent the knives so that the trimmings are directed outwardly from the knives and carriage whereby the same have free travel.

. The invention claimed is:

Y 1. In a trimming machine the combination with a carriage, a slideway supporting the same, a handle for sliding the carriage thereon, and a pair of clamping plates carried by the carriage, of a lever for adjusting the plate spacing and including a handle positioned adjacent the first mentioned handle whereby upon initial application of power,'the plates cause aclamping action `and upon completing same continued power application secures carriage sliding movement.

` 2. In atrimming machina-the combination with acarriage, a slideway supporting the same, a pair of spaced oscillatable knives, said carriage being movable therebetween, a

handle for sliding the carriage on said slideway, and a pair of clamping plates carried by the` carriage for holding a plurality of sheets in substantially parallel and rigid relation upon said carriage, with a lever for adjusting the plate spacing and including a handle positionedv adjacent the first mentioned handle whereby upon initial application of power, the plates cause a clamping action and upon completing same continued power application secures carriage sliding movement.

3. In a trimming machine, the combination with a reciprocating carriage, a slideway supporting the same, and a guide plate positioned adjacent thereto and parallel to the carriage movement, of a handle for sliding the carriage on the slideway, a pair of clamping plates carried by the carriage and angular ofsaid guide plate, a lever for adjusting the clamping plate spacing and including a handle positioned adjacent rst mentioned handle whereby upon initial application of power the plates cause a clamping' action and upon completing the same continued power application secures carriage sliding movement, a pair of oscillatable knives said carriage being movable therebetween, said sheet clamping plates having a width dimension substantially that of the knife spacing for full sheet support, and means associated with said clamping plates providing relatively softer edges thereon for knife edge protection.

4. In a sheet guide and trimmer the combination with a travelling carriage, sheet clamping means carried thereby, a guide plate parallel to the carriage for sheet edge engagement and alignment, and a pair of cutters movable to and fro in parallel planes,

of means eccentrically mounting the cutters relative to each other for. simultaneously, moving said cutters in power balancing relation.

In .witness whereof I have hereunto aiiiXed my signature.

LAVRENGE l?. ERPELDING. 

